Aboriginal design in transport infrastructure: empowering communities through the inclusion of cultural design knowledge into project solutions

In an Australian context, all engineering projects are built on Aboriginal lands that have their own diverse stories, peoples and designs; yet in many cases, fostering meaningful relationships between these Aboriginal communities and projects' potential outcomes (social, economic and the like) is a challenge that seems to sit outside the projects themselves. This paper will briefly discuss the challenges presented by i) project scopes or timeframes that often do not align with Aboriginal community needs, such that ii) an engagement's authenticity can be affected, restricted or put in the 'too hard' basket and not done. The paper will then present an inclusive Aboriginal-led co-design methodology that involves the following Aboriginal Design Principles: a) any Indigenous content will be led by Indigenous people, b) community should be involved in the designing where possible, and c) ensuring authentic outcomes for Aboriginal people, project deliverers and clients. The paper will present a case study that successfully included cultural design in project solutions, the Southern Program Alliance (Melbourne). The case studies will demonstrate how engaging authentically with local Aboriginal Design Knowledge leads to culturally and economically empowering Aboriginal communities while also providing strong built environment outcomes that incorporate the area's diverse viewpoints.

• Record URL:
  https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=969143805432423;res=IELENG
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781925627251
• Authors:
  • Hromek, M
• Conference:
  • WEC2019: World Engineers Convention 2019, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Publication Date: 2019-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 1085-1095
• Monograph Title: WEC2019: World Engineers Convention, 20-22 November 2019, Melbourne, Victoria
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Design; Environmental impacts; Indigenous peoples; Project management; Public participation
• Geographic Terms: Melbourne, Victoria
• ATRI Terms: Case study; Cultural heritage; Design; Environmental effects; Indigenous Australian; Project management; Public participation
• Subject Areas: Design; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01745498
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
• ISBN: 9781925627251
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 17 2020 11:52AM